Unity Among Christianity

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Jon_Hus said:
OK, start a new thread, you are straying too far off topic. Or better yet, do a search, this topic has been beaten into the ground approx 1 million times.
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You put it into practice in this thread.

As the doctrine of scripture alone is indefensible, I wasn’t expecting an answer.

It’s all about authority. Scripture alone breeds disunity and it’s a core tenet of Protestantism.
 
Jon_Hus said:
I think I owe you an appology for not being clear. Let me rephrase my question.

Do Catholics, either the Clergy or the laymen promote unity between non-catholics? In other words, do they promote unity between let’s say Methodists and Presbyterians? Or do they just promote unity between themselves and other groups?
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Jon,

That is a good question,but to be honest,but do not quote me,but I believe it is between themselves and other groups.However,I do believe it does encourage unity between let us say Methodists and Presbyterians. As I stated,ecumenical issues is not my cup of tea,but I know the RCC does care about unity for all us. And I am all for it!
 
Nicea325 said:
Jon,

That is a good question,but to be honest,but do not quote me,but I believe it is between themselves and other groups.However,I do believe it does encourage unity between let us say Methodists and Presbyterians. As I stated,ecumenical issues is not my cup of tea,but I know the RCC does care about unity for all us. And I am all for it!
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My complements on your candor.

Take care,
Jon
 
Jon_Hus said:
My complements on your candor.

Take care,
Jon
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Jon, every time the Mass is celebrated the Church prays for Christ’s desire that his flock will be united. That prayer to me covers all Christianity. All separated from the Apostolic faithful. Peace, Carlan
 
Patrick_Ambrose said:
I am Catholic and raised to believe in a unity among all Christianity. I’ve always spoke with others of other Christian churches and spoke of similarities. The main one? Christ crucified, died and rose from the dead for our sins. It’s interesting to me that we start there and then all of a sudden, in some case, conflicts are brought up. Then, the next thing I notice is that I’m attacked for things half truths of what I believe. So, I’d like to see how long this string can go without someone taking a jab at another Christian faith (or, for that matter, negativity toward any other religious group). I say, let’s try and keep this going and see where it leads. If you don’t have anything positive to say (even if it is a belief that is unlike mine); just move onto another site. But if there is something positive to say, please post it. Sound good?
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Good question !
There’s a mentality out there in the world with its own rules -
" We must agree to disagree."
“We don’t discuss Religion or Politics”
“Don’t rock the boat”
Perhaps people are afraid to ’ grasp the nettle’ and discuss their differences in case they come to blows or in case their opponent proves them wrong. I believe that if a truth is worth believing - it must be worth defending and passing on to the next generation.:twocents:
 
Okay, this is going south quickly. There are obviously people taking my post and seeing negatives, thinking that I’m taking some shots and they seem to be looking for cryptic messages.

Did anyone see, “take the positive”? Because what I’m seeing here is the opposite. I purposely put thoughts that were controversial among different people who have posted messages while making the statement of “looking for the positive”. What I want people to do is look at things, as people have used the word, ecumenically.

The shots across the bow of different posts are the direct opposite of what I want to have happened.

But I’m stubborn and won’t give up that easily. If you are one who want to use this post to take a shot at someone else? I say ignore them. Act as if they were never posted because they don’t belong. If there are posts of people saying “well so and so said this or that”? I say ignore them. There’s no point to statements like this no matter how many facts or opinions one wishes to use to back it up.

Finally, anyone who have taken offense to what I’ve said here, I apologize in advance for this because this is not my intent. My hope is to have a focus on Christ, start there and continue from there.

Things do not have to be all roses but simply state what you believe, if you like but don’t do it at the expense of another.

Again, I reiterate, let’s look for the positive. Something that has been mentioned on more than one occasion is something to the affect of "let’s work against the Anti-Christ, what we’re supposed to be doing anyway.

Let’s do that the best and, really, only way. Let’s work FOR Christ because that is exactly where our strength and power exists in fighting Satan. In fact, that’s the only way we can defend ourselves against the hate, anger, fear and selfishness of Satan.

So, let’s see if we can armor up and move forward. Any takers?
 
Patrick_Ambrose said:
Okay, this is going south quickly. There are obviously people taking my post and seeing negatives, thinking that I’m taking some shots and they seem to be looking for cryptic messages.

Did anyone see, “take the positive”? Because what I’m seeing here is the opposite.

Any takers?
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Your original post was very cryptic. I have no idea what your question is. Without a clear question, you can’t expect a clear answer that satisfies your desired direction. 🤷
 
catholicgirl201 said:
Maybee oneday we will have unity.The bible says, or rather St Paul says" we are all one in Christ Jesus". Whether we are protestant or Catholic we are all still christians!🙂
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Paul also said:

Phil. 2:2
Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Eph. 4:11-14
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith…… that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.

One in Christ and unity of the faith does not mean that we simply get along with our separated brothers and find a few things in common. Christ established His Catholic Church so that we would not be like children and be tossed to and fro and believe in all kinds of false doctrines. True unity means accepting everything His Church has always taught.
 
I’m not telling anyone to deny their Catholicism or any other Christian (or otherwise) faith they are a part of and I’m not denying my Catholic beliefs.

What I’m saying is simple and I’m going to attempt to say it in as few words as possible so, perhaps, it’s more clear.
  1. Keep the potshots to yourself.
  2. Post detractions from someone else’s post somewhere else.
  3. Give your view in Christian unity and what it means (I liked the above post on Ephesians)
  4. Expound on what is stated as you wish but keep the attacks and negative out. Instead, keep your posts focused on your belief.
The post with the Ephesians verses was well stated and gave a positive view of a person’s belife. This is good. Now, if someone says, “you’re not reading that right, this is what it means…”, then we’re heading down argument. Instead, say, “I like that quote and it also says…” or “This is my feeling on this verse; I also like such-and-such a verse”

Or you can bring up what it is about your faith you like but keep the posts focused and centered on “this is my belief” and leave out the “that other faith is in error”.

It’s not a matter of saying what you think of someone else but rather say what you believe of your own faith.

There’s more I have to say on this but I’m trying not SAY what I want to see if people can come together with differences, even in this society which seems to be placing a premium on being right over truth and sarcasm over unity.

Lastly, what is the question: Here’s two:
  1. What do you believe about your own faith?
  2. HOW can their be unity among Christians (not whether or not there can be unity but HOW can there be)?
God Bless Us All And Keep Us Always
 
Patrick_Ambrose said:
I’m not telling anyone to deny their Catholicism or any other Christian (or otherwise) faith they are a part of and I’m not denying my Catholic beliefs.

What I’m saying is simple and I’m going to attempt to say it in as few words as possible so, perhaps, it’s more clear.
  1. Keep the potshots to yourself.
  2. Post detractions from someone else’s post somewhere else.
  3. Give your view in Christian unity and what it means (I liked the above post on Ephesians)
  4. Expound on what is stated as you wish but keep the attacks and negative out. Instead, keep your posts focused on your belief.
The post with the Ephesians verses was well stated and gave a positive view of a person’s belife. This is good. Now, if someone says, “you’re not reading that right, this is what it means…”, then we’re heading down argument. Instead, say, “I like that quote and it also says…” or “This is my feeling on this verse; I also like such-and-such a verse”

Or you can bring up what it is about your faith you like but keep the posts focused and centered on “this is my belief” and leave out the “that other faith is in error”.

It’s not a matter of saying what you think of someone else but rather say what you believe of your own faith.

There’s more I have to say on this but I’m trying not SAY what I want to see if people can come together with differences, even in this society which seems to be placing a premium on being right over truth and sarcasm over unity.

Lastly, what is the question: Here’s two:
  1. What do you believe about your own faith?
  2. HOW can their be unity among Christians (not whether or not there can be unity but HOW can there be)?
God Bless Us All And Keep Us Always
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There can only be unity among Christians in Christ’s Catholic Church.
 
=Patrick Ambrose;6972025
The post with the Ephesians verses was well stated and gave a positive view of a person’s belife. This is good. Now, if someone says, “you’re not reading that right, this is what it means…”, then we’re heading down argument. Instead, say, “I like that quote and it also says…” or “This is my feeling on this verse; I also like such-and-such a verse”
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When Paul made that statement to the Ephesians he made them as a bishop in the Catholic Church. The “faith” that he was speaking of was apostolic faith given to the apostles by Christ.

If unity of faith simply means that one can accept some teachings of the Church and reject others then why was Paul so hostile to the Judaizers? Why didn’t he say “we are still brothers in Christ even though you reject the teaching that circumcision is not necessary.”

Instead Paul said this to the Galatians who were listening to the preaching of the Judaizers “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to another gospel…if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be anthema.” Gal1:6-9

Paul had this to say to the Judaizers, “I wish those who unsettle you would mutliate themselves.”

Paul took unity of faith seriously. Their was no room for relativism in Paul’s gospel and there can be no room for it today.

I agree with you that Catholics don’t have to tell a Protestant that the Catholic Church has the fullness of truth with the first words out of his mouth but at some point in the conversation the truth must be told. To do otherwise is promote relativism. Telling them the truth, as Paul did, is a work of love.
 
Simply we defend the whole truth of Christ’s revelation, we do it on our knees and with as much love as possible. You must understand though .Patrick we are dealing on a two way street. And we are doing it for the most part on a human level, the pride will reign and humility goes out the window, God help us, we are sinners.
Peace, Carlan
 
1holycatholic said:
There can only be unity among Christians in Christ’s Catholic Church.
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This is what I think you are trying to say based on the above statement:

When your beloved Pope calls for dialog and understanding that leads to a working relationship between the institution he leads and those who profess to be Christians but are not in a relationship with Rome, he, your Pope is basically on a fools mission? Why: because you say there can only be unity among Christians in Christ’s (Roman*) Catholic Church. Now, since the Pope does in fact dialog with those non- Roman Catholics who profess Christ, he, the Pope is actually on a mission to convert those peoples to membership into the institution he leads?

Also, since there is unity among some of those who profess to be Christians but are not Catholics*, they are by your definition not really Christians by any stretch of the immagination because you say there can only be christian unity among Catholics*.

Do I understand you correctly?

*Based on your previous statements it is assumed that when you say Catholic Church, you mean Roman Catholic Church.
 
Jon_Hus said:
This is what I think you are trying to say based on the above statement:

When your beloved Pope calls for dialog and understanding that leads to a working relationship between the institution he leads and those who profess to be Christians but are not in a relationship with Rome, he, your Pope is basically on a fools mission? Why: because you say there can only be unity among Christians in Christ’s (Roman*) Catholic Church. Now, since the Pope does in fact dialog with those non- Roman Catholics who profess Christ, he, the Pope is actually on a mission to convert those peoples to membership into the institution he leads?

Also, since there is unity among some of those who profess to be Christians but are not Catholics*, they are by your definition not really Christians by any stretch of the immagination because you say there can only be christian unity among Catholics*.

Do I understand you correctly?

*Based on your previous statements it is assumed that when you say Catholic Church, you mean Roman Catholic Church.
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The Church refers to herself as the Church, or the Catholic Church. I’m in communion with the Catholic Church, but I don’t live in the Rome, therefore I am not a Roman Catholic.

Anyone validly baptized is a Christian ad aeternum - even apostates.

DECREE ON ECUMENISM
UNITATIS REDINTEGRATIO
 
1holycatholic said:
The Church refers to herself as the Church, or the Catholic Church. I’m in communion with the Catholic Church, but I don’t live in the Rome, therefore I am not a Roman Catholic.
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I thought the Church refers to herself as “the Holy and Orthodox Church.” It is comprised of local churches started by and pastored by all 12 of the Apostles, not just one or two of them.

😉 See the point?
 
There’s a book by Avery Cardinal Dulles called “Models of the Church”. Good book if you want to get a good look as a way to view at ecumenism and getting past the present barriers.
 
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